Jorge Mario Castro Ponce National University of January – May 2012

To go to Sentosa the best two ways are by Monorail from Vivo City or by Cable Car that allows you to have a great view of the and the port. There are several attractions here. I selected Sky Tower to watch Singapore from a high altitude, the Underwater World Singapore which is an Ocenarium where you can even swim with the dolphins, a good experience. I also tried the Wave House Sentosa which is an artificial surf place where anyone could practice without getting hurt in the real sea. I decided to swim at Palawan Beach which is the Southernmost point of continental reachable by land and watch the Show with effect and pyrotechnics, Water Jets, Flame Bursts, Lasers and music making this show a must see in Singapore.

There are several parties in Sentosa, especially pool parties. There are several in the area that deserve to be visited. The towering statue of , the skyline Luge Sentosa that allows you to have a nice view of the plains and beach of Sentosa are also attractions that are interesting for most foreigners including me. In case of being interested in skydiving like me in Sentosa there is an attraction called iFly Singapore which is a skydiving simulator which put visitors into a vertical wind tunnel that recreates a freefall. Universal Studios Singapore are located here too. This attraction requires at least one full day to really enjoy all the rides and have a great NY style pizza which is very famous among people that visit the park.

. Jorge Mario Castro Ponce National University of Singapore January – May 2012

This place is a symbol of Singapore’s rise as one of the world’s premier travel destinations. It is one of the most beautiful buildings. The Marina Bay Sands has also a Skating Rink which in size is similar of the Rockefeller Center in New York. Ku de Ta is a at almost the top of the building that at night is transformed into a club, a quite expensive one but with maybe the best view of the city. The Marina Bay Sands also offer the best brands such as Burberry, Cartier, Salvatore Ferragamo, etc. The sands SkyPark is the best place to have an amazing view of the city, there are beautiful gardens and a swim in the infinite pool is a must in Singapore, especially in the sunset, when starting to see the lights of the beautiful city turning on is breathtaking. The art Science Museum inside the Marina Bay Sands is quite impressive in its technology, design and architecture. The Crystal Pavilion floating on the waters of Marina Bay is really awesome and it holds Avalon and Pangaea, two of the biggest and most important clubs in Singapore where very important artists have performed. Even though dining over there is very expensive, almost not affordable for exchange students, the least expensive one is the Pizza place but I definitely recommend eating outside of the area. In the Commercial Center there is a Sampan Ride that is very interesting, a little bit expensive but a good experience.

LITTLE INDIA Jorge Mario Castro Ponce National University of Singapore January – May 2012

It is a great place that according to Indian people gives a snapshot of life as it is on the streets of New Delhi and Mumbai. One of the most important places in the area is Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. In the area there are regular department stores and the Mustafa Centre which sells everything from grocery to jewelry, entertainment, electronics, clothes, cameras and home appliances and it is open 24 hours a day. This is one of the few places in the island that you can ask for a discount freely. Many and eating houses are on the street. Very delicious Indian Food is offered in the area and I truly recommend at Broadway with dishes from 10 Singapore Dollars (230NTD) and the recommendation is to order several dishes to share and then try as many as possible. The Indian Ice Cream is a dish that I tried and it has a very interesting taste. There are also fortune tellers such as Mr. Muniyapan and his parakeet which predicted the outcome of several 2010 World cup matches. Tekka Centre is also a very interesting place which has a wet market and numerous shops. Along the street there are several comfortable and cheap places to drink a beer such as the Spanish restaurant Sofi Tapas Bar that offers an interesting environment with very good Spanish food and drinks from Europe and Asia. In the street there are also a lot of hostals for tourists and backpackers. The street is a little bit dirty though compared to the rest of the city.

SINGAPORE ARCHITECTURE AND HOLLAND VILLAGE Jorge Mario Castro Ponce National University of Singapore January – May 2012

Only two MRT stations away from NUS there is a street full of great places to eat and drink called Holland Village. This place is meant for all kind of people, people that is looking for simple everyday drinks and food and those who are looking for a luxury place to have a great experience. The neighborhood is very nice and classic. Its alfresco bars are usually packed at night. The Hawker Centre offers a lot of local dishes and affordable bottles of ice cold beer. It also offers International cuisine such as Mexican, Thai, Japanese food among others which are way cheaper than places like Chijmes and Clark Quay. No place to dance though.

The Black and White Bungalows are symbols of social status in modern Singapore in the colony. Lush Gardens, patios and long driveways were common in this kind of constructions. There are quite a few of these that are protected by the government. is the perfect place to see Art deco architecture. For Neoclassical architecture the Old Supreme Court is a good example. Chijmes the church that was converted in restaurants and bars is kind of gothic style. Near the Neo Classical Fullerton Bay Hotel there is the most iconic plaza of Singapore. The place that every single tourist and visitor should take a picture at. If you do not have a picture with this symbol you just simply didn’t go to Singapore and is definitely the White Merlion. Its view with the city and Marina Bay really make you appreciate and love the perfect city of Singapore.